Stoker mechanism



N. M. LOWER STOKER MECHANISM April 21, 1931.

Original Filed May 29 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 jhvnor.

fiat/tan 1020197 April 21, 1931. N. M. LOWER 1,301,776

STOKER MECHANISM Original Filed May 29 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [22 van 602 Mfan/lflflqer & "8y

April 21, 1931. LOWER 1,801,776

STOKER MECHANISM Original Filed May 29 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 jigs.

April 21, 1931. N. M. LOWER 1,801,776

STOKER MECHANISM Original Filed May 29 1925 .5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A ril 21, 1931. N. M. LOWER 1,801,775

STOKER MECHANISM Or iginal Filed May 29, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 V fn enans': Jlhtamz/(Aower W- M %M@ Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNETE lsra'rs :A'Ni orrics NATHAN M. rowan, or BALTIMORE, MARYIiAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE assremvinnrs, r THE STANDARD STOKER oolvrranr Inc, or new YORK, n. Y., A CORPURATION OF- DELAWARE sToKn-n MECHANISM A s-barren filed- May 29, 1925, Serial No. 33,696; Renewed "au ustes, 1930. r

This invention relates to stokers and more particularly to that type in which swinging vanes are employed for distributing the fuel over the grates in the firebox. One of the objects ofthe invention is the provision of new'and-iniproved means for operating one of the swinging fuel delivery vanesto the exclusion of the other.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of new and improved means for varyingthe operation of the elevator whereby fuel may be distributed to either side of the firebox to the exclusion of the other as desired or as occasion may require.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for controlling the operation of the elevator and the distributing vanes,

Anotherobject of the invention is the provision'of new and improved stoked mechanism that is cheap to manufacture, simple in construction, eflicient and easily controlled in operation, that may be readily assembled,

and that is not likely to become broken or get out oforder. 1 Otherand further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the fol lowing description taken in. connection with the accompanying drawings, in which V v Fig. l is. a side elevation of a portion of the stoker showing the same in position on a locomotive, with parts in section and parts broken away; i if Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same; Fig. 3. is av section on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. i is a sectionon line i4l of Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the clutch mechanism; Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-"? ofFig. 3, on an enlarged scale, with parts broken y; i a

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of the shifting rings; 1 V

F 10 is a sectional view of the resilient shifter member; and i 1 j Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of a portion pif ltlwo of the intermeshing gears and timer On the drawingthe referencecharacter 10 'means as the rollers 37 and 38,

designates the backheadof a locomotive, 11 an opening therein and 12. the grates 'within the firebox. The stoker 13 is mounted on the locomotive adjacent to the backheadlO as is usual in such constructions. The'stoker comprises the casing 14 at the upper end of which is mounted the distributor plate 15, the forward extension 16 of which is adapted to extend through the openingll. The dis tributorplate may be considered as constituting the bottom wall ofa fuel receptacle having side, top and back walls forming a chamber'or receptacle open at its front. A. portion of form a lid 9. The rear portion of the casing 14 forms a chamber 17 which is adapted to receive fuel transferred from the tender by the conveyor 18. The conveyor comprises a conduit 19 flexibly connected-to the casing 14- as by means of a ball and socket joint 21 and a conveyor screw 22 rotatably mounted in said conduit. v

Suitable means are provided for deliverthe top Wallis hinged as'at 8 to ing the fuel supplied to the chamber to the i distributor plate 15. in the form of the device selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention this is accomplished by means of a plunger 23 which is operated from a power shaft 52 i mechanism.

A pairof-swinging vanes 25 and 26 are employed for projecting the fuel into the firebox. The vanes are rigidly connected to shafts 27 journaled in the upper portion of by the gearedthe casing l t and are operated quadrants 28 and 29 whlch engage the gears 31 and 32 on the shafts 27. The quadrants QSand 29 are operated by the arms and 34 mounted on the shafts 35 and 36 respectively. The lower ends of the arms 33 and 34 are provided with laterally extending cam grooves or ways 39 and 41 on opposite The cam plate is rotated from the power shaft 24; through theworm a l on said shaft and the worm gear on the countershaft 45 on which the cam plate is mounted. The

rotation of the cam will cause an oscillation of the arms 33 and 32L which in turn by bethrou 'h suitable 'ear b 23 for engaging sides of the cam plate 42, see Figs. 2 and 3.

ing connected to the quadrants will cause the latter to oscillate to operate the gears 31 and 32- for operating the vanes 25 and 26 for projecting the fuel carried up by the elevator, into the fireboX.

In firing locomotive and other power plants it becomes necessary, at times, to supply more fuel to one side of the firebox than to the other. ()no desirable way of accomplishing this function is disclosed in the drawing and consists of means for selectively operating either vane to the exclusion of the other whereby the operating vane will have the entire fuel supply to distribute on its side of the firebox. The vane 26 is permitted to remain idle by shifting the roller 38 and arm 34 out of engagement with its cam groove 41 by the mechanism that will now be described.

The quadrant 29 is fixed on the shaft 36. The arm 34 is provided with a hub 46 which is slidably splined on the shaft 36. The hub 46 is provided with a groove 4.7 inwhich a shifter yoke 48 engages for shifting the hub and arm 34. The yoke 48 is rigidly connected to a shifter rod 49 slidably mounted in the casing 51. The rod 49 is shifted by means of a lever 52 to which it is connected. The lever is provided with a suitable latch for engaging the notched quadrant 53 for holding the roller 38 in or out of engagement with the corresponding cam groove.

Suitable means are provided for preventing the shifting of the arm 34 except when the vane 26 is in its retracted position, otherwise the vane 26 would be in the path of the operation of the other vane and would interfere with its movements. One manner of accomplishing this function is shown by way of example in Fig. 4. A projection 54 rigidly secured in position as by being mounted on the casing 14 is adapted to cooperate with timing lug mounted on the hub 46 to prevent the shifting of the hub except when the vane is retracted and the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4. The proj eetion and lug are oppositely beveled whereby the beveled surfaces will cooperate to insure no interference during the shifting operation, and will tend to autoi ically move the arm toward the cam plate after the sharp edge of the lug has been shifted inwardly past the sharp edge on the projection.

The mechanism for controlling the operation of the other vane 25 is different from that just described. he arm 33 is rotatively connected to the shaft 35 and oscillates at all times during the operation of the cam plate. The quadrant 28, however, is fixed on the shaft, and may be made to oscillate therewith by means of the clutch member 56 slidably keyed to the shaft 35. The clutch member 56 may be provided with one or more teeth 57, only one being shown,

which is adapted to engage a corresponding recess 58 in the hub 59 of the arm 33. The clutch member is operated by a lever 61 through the connecting means or link 62, shifting rod 63 and yoke 64 which engages a groove 65 in the clutch member, the arrangement being substantially the same as the lever 52 and its operated mechanism at the opposite side of the casing 14. The timing lug 66 on the clutch member cooperates with the fixed projection 67 to prevent disengagement of the clutch except when the vane is in retracted position, in a manner similar to that described above.

It is desirable that the frequency of the reciprocations of the plunger or elevator be the same as that of the operating vanes. In other words, when only one vane is operating the frequency of the elevator reciprocations will be only one-half of that when both vanes are operating.

Suit-able means for changing the frequency of the reciprocation of the plunger or elevator will now be described. The

am plate 42 is provided with a hub or drum 68 which is mounted on the shaft 45. Rigidly secured to the hub or drum 68 are the two gears 71 and 72 of different diameters, see Figs. 2 and 3. The crank shaft 74 which operates the elevator or plunger 23 through the crank 75 and the link 7 6 is provided with two gears 77 and 78. A rocker frame 79 having its axis concentric with the shaft 74 is provided on one end with a gear 1 and on its other with the gear 82. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 the shaft 74 is operated from the shaft 45 through the gears 72, 81 and 78. The gears 81 and 78 have the same number of teeth, but the gear 72 having double the number of teeth on the gear 78 the shaft 74 will rotate at twice the speed of the shaft 45, consequently the elevator or plunger 23 will reciprocate for each oscillation of the vanes 25 and 26. When it is desired to deliver fuel in the path of only one of the vanes, the frame 79 is tilted so that the gears 82 and 71 are in mesh. The shaft 74 is then operated through the train of gears 71, 82 and 77. Since these gears all have the same number of teeth, the shaft 74 will rotate at the same rate of speed as the shaft 45, whereby the plunger will reciprocate once for each rotation of the cam plate 42.

Suitable means are provided for rocking the frame 79. As shown, this is accomplished by means of a push rod or handle bar 83 which is adapted to operate a lever 84 pivoted in the lower portion of the frame and having its lower end connected to a resilient link member 85 which in turn is attached to an arm 86 rigidly connected to the rocker frame 79. The upper end of the handle bar 83 is provided with a suitable opening for engaging either the bolt 87 or the bolt" 88 for holding the rocker frame '79 in adjusted position. i

Inthe operation ofthe device it isnecessary that the-plunger 23 and the vanes :25 and 26 operate in timed relation to each other. The mechanism is so arranged that the vanes sweep forwardly across the elevator when it is in its upper position. Suitable means provided for insuring the proper meshing of the gears when the frame 79 is rocked to changethe frequency of the reciprocations of the plunger. As shown, this may be accomplished by providing timer disks ,89, 91, 92, 93attached to the faces of the gears 71, 72, 81 and 82respectively. The disks 92 and 93 are provided with timer toothed extensions 94 (see Fig. 11)

i which are adapted to engage in corresponding openings or. recesses 95in the timer disks 89 and 91 during the rotation of the gears after they once register with each other.

The diameter of the timer disks is substantially the same as the pitched diameter of the gearsand consequently they do, not prevent the intermeshingofthe teeth of the gears. The rocker frame 7 9 may be moved at any time to cause the intermeshing of the gears. The extension 94 will engage the: periphery of the opposing timer disk and will slide along the same until it comes opposite the opening or recess 95 which'will insure the proper meshingof the gears to cause the elevator to operate in timed relation to the swinging of the vanes.

When the gears are intermeshed andthe exte nsion 94 is in engagementwith the pegear 72, to permit the teeth toslidepa-st each other until the'tooth 94 engages the recess or notch 95, is permitted by the resil-v ient link or member which is provided with the springs 96 and 9?, one of which is compressed when the] handle bar 88 is con- .nected tothe bolt 87to cause the gears 72 and 81 to intermesh and the other is compressed when it is attached to the bolt 88 to engage the gear 82 with thegear 71- By means of this arrangement the handle bar 83 may be adjusted to either position and the extensions 94 on the timer disks'92 and 93 will insure the proper intermeshing of the gears at the proper time to cause the parts to,

operate .in proper timed relation. I

Since the gear 81 has only one-half as many teeth as the gear 72 it is necessary to The timer disk 89 each other.

provide two recesses or openings at 180 apart in the timer disk 91 for accommodating the projection 94 in the rotation of the gear 81.

recesses or openings 95 arranged opposite Since each ofthe'vanes 1S operated once for each rotation of the cam disk, their operation occurring at 180 apart in the rotation of said disk, and since the gears 71-,- 77 and 82 are of the same diameter, 1t 18 evident that if the tooth or extension v 94 of the timer disk 93 is made to register with one of the opening 95 in the timerdisk 89 the elevator will deliver fuel to one of the vanes, and if it is made to register with the other recess or opening the elevator will deliver fuel'to the other vane.

Suitablemeans are provided for closing either opening. for controlling the. operation of the elevator for. supplying fuel'to either vane as desired. As shown, two

shafts or rods 98 and 99 are slidabl-y mount- I ed inthe hub or drum 68 and each is provided with a lateral extension 1 101 corre- 'sponding to the shape of the opening 95. It vis evident that by shifting either the rod 98 is provided with twoor the rod 99 the corresponding opening 95 a will be closed and the tooth or extension 94 on the timer disk will bepermitted to enter only the opening 95 that is free, whereby the elevator will operate in proper timed relation to the operation of either vane depending on which one of the rods 98 or 99 has been operated. l

Suitable means are provided for operating the rods 98 and 99. These rods are provided with shifter rings 102 and103, respectively. The rings 102 and 103 are'shifted .by yokes 1 04 and 105 slidably mounted in the casing 14 and in order that whenone I of the openings 95 in the timer disk 89 is closed the other will'be' open, the lyokes are secured to an operatinglever '106 at each side of the pivot 107. The lever 106 is op- 3.

erated manually by a handle or rod 108 operatively connected to the lever 106;

' In the normal operation of'the device'the parts are adjusted to the position that the Shaft 74will rotate at double the speed of the shaft/45 whereby the elevatorwill deliver fuel in the paths of the swinging vanes intimed relation totheir operation. When -it is desired to trim thefire at either side of the firebox the lever 52 or 61 may be operated for stopping the operation of either vane,

whereby the other vane will receive all the fuel.

Or the gears may be shifted tocause the elevator to operate at one-half its nor,- mal frequency, thus delivering all the fuel to one of the varies, the other vane operating idly.

In order to save the wear and tear on the vane that is operating idly the same may be disconnected by operating the lever 52 or 61 as the case may be. Before operating the handle or rod 83 for changing the frequency of the reciprocation of the elevator, the rod or handle 108 is operated to close one of the openings 95 whereby when the rod or handle 83 operated the fuel will be delivered to the selected vane, Otherwise the tooth or extension 94; will engage the first recess 95 that comes opposite it and while the fuel will be delivered to only one vane, it may or may not be the selected vane.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a stoker, a pair of swinging vanes, an elevator for delivering fuel to the Zone of action of said vanes, means for operating said vanes in timed relation to the operation of said elevator, and means for operating one of said vanes to the'exclusion of the other without changing the frequency of operation of the operating vane.

2. In a stoker, a pair of swinging vanes, an elevator arranged to operate periodically for delivering fuel to the zone of action of said vanes, means for operating said vanes in timed relation to the operation of said elevator, means for operating one of said vanes to the exclusion of the other without changing the frequency of operation of the operating vane, and means for operating 0 said elevator at the same frequency as the operating vane.

3. In a stoker, a pair of swinging vanes, an elevator for delivering fuel in the path of said vanes, means for rendering one of said vanes inoperative without affecting the operation of the other vane, and means for preventing the operation of said first-named means except when the said one vane is in its normal inoperative position.

4. In a stoker, a pair of swinging vanes, an elevator, means for operating said elevator arranged to operate periodically in timed relation to the operation of said vanes at a predetermined frequency, change gear mechanism for changing the frequency of the operation of said elevator, and means including timing means and a spring device for effecting a slippage of the gears until the same are properly meshed to cause the elevator and one or both of said vanes to operate in proper timed relation.

5. In a stoker, a pair of swinging vanes, means for operating said vanes, an elevator, means for operating said elevator for delivering fuel periodically to the Zone of action of said vanes, and means for changing the frequency of the operation of said elevator relative to the operation of said vanes for causing said elevator to deliver fuel to one of said vanes to the exclusion of the other.

6. In a stoker, a pair of swinging vanes, means for operating said vanes, an elevator, means for operating said elevator for delivering fuel periodically into the zone of 5 action of said vanes, said means being adapted to operate said elevator with a. frequency equal to that of both of said vanes combined, whereby the fuel delivered by said elevator to said vanes will be distrib uted by both of said vanes, and including shiftable means for operating said elevator with a frequency equal to that of only one of said vanes without changing the speed of such vane, whereby the fuel will be distributed by one of said vanes only.

7. In a stoker, a pair of swinging vanes, means for operating said vanes, an elevator, means for periodically operating said elevator for delivering fuel into the zone of action of said vanes in timed. relation to their operation, and means for changing the frequency of the operation of the elevator relative to the operation of said vanes, said elevator continuing to operate in timed relation to one of said vanes.

8. In a stoker, a pair of fuel distributing members, an elevator arranged to operate periodically and adapted to be adjusted to have a predetermined frequency of operation for supplying fuel to said members in timed relation to the operation of the same, means for changing the frequency of the operation of said elevator, and means for preventing such change except under predetermined conditions.

9. In a stoker, fuel distributor means, an elevator arranged to operate periodically for delivering fuel into the zone of action of said distributor means, gears for operating said elevator at a predetermined frequency, mechanism for changing the frequency of the operation of said elevator, and means including timer disks having cooperating projections and recesses for permitting the intermeshing of the gears, but preventing the complete rotation of certain of said intermeshed gears except when the projections and recesses thereon engage.

10. In a stoker, a fuel distributor memher, an elevator arranged to operate periodically for delivering fuel to said distributor member, means for operating said elevator at a predetermined frequency, means for changing the frequency of operation of said elevator, said means comprising a rotating shaft, a pair of gears of unequal diameter on said shaft, a crank shaft for operating said elevator, a pair of gears of unequal diameter on said crank shaft, a rocker frame having its axis concentric with the axis of said crank shaft, a gear at each end of said frame in mesh with a corresponding gear on said crank shaft, and means for rocking said frame for one or the other of the gears on the ends of said frame to intermesh with a corresponding gear on said first-mentioned shaft.

NATHAN M. LOWER. 

